The Smashing Pumpkins

THE AUDIOECLECTICA PODCAST: EPISODE 001


This has been a long time coming and it’s finally here! The All New and Revamped Audioeclectica Podcast. I’m very pleased and proud to be bringing this back. Joining me on this venture are a few people that I’d like to shout out. First being my co-host Justin Sinclair (of sinistermusicreviews.wordpress.com). Justin is a good friend of mine and we share a common interest in a lot of the same music and I’ve taken it upon myself to expand his musical horizons. And it’s definitely paid off! Look at you know! Also a shout to Diggy at Lucky Star Radio for hosting the show and for all your behind the scenes work. And finally my friend Dionne at JASI Entertainment for pushing me to get this thing going again and for the support!

The first episode is all about reunions, bands that have stuck it out, best reunions, cash grab bands/tours, reunions we wish would happen and more. Plus some really great tidbits of information about the bands, tours, shows, and then some. This is the first of many episodes to come. Lots of different topics will be discussed and opinions shared. So come along for this ride and join the fun!

If there is a topic on your mind you’d like us to discuss, leave us a comment and we will add it to the list.

Thank you all for your support throughout the years! Audioeclectica is on its way to bigger and better things and this is just the start! Stay Tuned and remember to always Listen Eclectically!

Best,

Brian

Listen On Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/5G5FiGzUixo5sy4QiL1cQA?utm_source=generator&theme=0

Listen On Apple:

https://embed.music.apple.com/us/album/audioeclectica-episode-001/1810149934

Listen On YouTube:

ALTERNATE VERSIONS: THE SMASHING PUMPKINS- BIRCH GROVE

It’s not a surprise to anyone that’s been reading Audioeclectica for a while that I’m a giant fan of The Smashing Pumpkins. Their catalog is one of my all time favorites and there’s always something new to discover among all the albums, b-sides, live versions and then some. During the pandemic, The Smashing Pumpkins released an album called CYR that is quite the under appreciated album in their repetoire. After countless listens and hearing a handful of these songs live, it became very apparent to me that I need to talk more about this underrated gem. One song that I really want to showcase is the song “Birch Grove.” This songs is quite a beautiful song. The version that I’m featuring was performed by Billy Corgan solo while a guest on the Howard Stern show. I love this song even more after hearing this version, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. And Happy Birthday WPC!

Birch Grove (Live On Howard Stern):





SONGS THAT SHOULD BE PLAYED LIVE: BLACK OBLIVION By Billy Corgan & Tony Iommi

Back in 2000, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath released a solo album that featured 10 different singers on songs he wrote. There’s songs with Ozzy, Phil Anselmo, Serj Tankian, Henry Rollins, Ian Astbury, Billy Idol and a few others. There is one song though that has always stood out to be the most and that song is “Black Oblivion” which was written by Tony Iommi and Billy Corgan. When you hear this song you can definitely get some awesome Sabbath vibes but, there’s something more to this song. It’s an epic song for one, and two, since Billy Corgan is such a giant Sabbath fan, you can really hear how much this meant to Billy to work with Tony. This is one of those songs that if The Smashing Pumpkins added to their set next time they tour, I would absolutely lose my mind. I really do love this song. I also have another idea for this. Since there is going to be a Final Black Sabbath show, and Billy Corgan will be there, how about “Black Oblivion” gets played live and with Tony Iommi joining Billy! That would be awesome!

Tony Iommi & Billy Corgan- Black Oblivion:

Collaborations: Blindside & Billy Corgan- Hooray It’s LA

Back in 2004, Blindside released their album About A Burning Fire. Their previous album Silence, is one of the most fun, energetic and still holds up quite well albums of the early 00’s. About A Burning Fire was not Silence Part 2, instead the band leaned forward and tried some new things and the experiment worked. There are a few things I really like about this album, one being the final song/title track. That’s one hell of a way to end an album. My favorite thing in particular is the song “Hooray It’s LA.” The song has a really rad vibe to it and then you add in the guitar playing of (and I’m sure some songwriting input) The Smashing Pumpkin’s Billy Corgan to it and you have yourself a really killer track! It’s been forever since we had a new Blindside album and that’s one I’d love to see in 2024 or at least they come back to the states for some shows!

Blindside Featuring Billy Corgan- Hooray It’s LA:

Cover Comparison: Professional Murder Music VS The Smashing Pumpkins (The Cure)- A Night Like This

The other day I had a song stuck in my head and after about 10 minutes I remembered who the band was and I went and put it on. The band was Professional Murder Music, who you might remember from the early 2000’s and their inclusion on the End Of Days soundtrack with their song “Slow.” While listening to their album, I remembered their very great cover of The Cure’s “A Night Like This.” While listening to that I thought, I should listen to another cover of the song by The Smashing Pumpkins. The pumpkins version is sung by James Iha so it has a different vibe than you’d normally get as we are so used to Billy/William as the singer. So I spent some time with both and I have my favorite of the two. Which one do you prefer?

Professional Murder Music- A Night Like This:

The Smashing Pumpkins (James Iha on Vocals)- A Night Like This:

New Release: The Smashing Pumpkins- Beguiled

My excitement level is pretty high right now. After last week seeing Nine Inch Nails for my 19th time and now this week, the news is finally released about The Smashing Pumpkins long awaited new album! “Atum: A Rock Opera In Three Acts”. The 33-track collection, whose title is pronounced “autumn,” is being billed as a sequel to 1995’s “Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness” and 2000’s “Machina/The Machine of God”. The LP will be released as three 11-track “acts”, eventually culminating in a three-act rock opera. Act 1 of “Atum” will arrive on November 15 2022, Act 2 on January 31 2023, and Act 3 will be made available, along with a special-edition box set featuring all 33 album tracks plus 10 additional unreleased songs, on April 21, 2023. “Atum: A Rock Opera In Three Acts” was written and recorded over a four-year period by Corgan and the rest of the current SMASHING PUMPKINS lineup: guitarists James Iha and Jeff Schroeder, plus drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.

The first single “Beguiled” is out now and features a video that was made and performed live on TikTok of all places. And to make things even more interesting,  Billy Corgan will premiere a new track every week for the next 33 weeks on his new podcast, “Thirty-Three With William Patrick Corgan”. The first two episodes, featuring the songs “Atum” and “Butterfly Suite”, are out now.

Not only is this exciting but The Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction tour starts next week and runs through November. What a show that will be. I know I’ll be attending it. See you there!


The Smashing Pumpkins- Beguiled:

Cover Song: The Smashing Pumpkins (The Talking Heads)- Once In A Lifetime

Ever since I went to see The Smashing Pumpkins a coiuple weeks ago, I’ve been reliving the show in my head. One of the moments of the show that really stood out to me was when they played their cover of The Talking Heads “Once In A Lifetime.” The original version is still astounding and this version, especially the arrangement the Pumpkins put together takes on a life of its own. I still can’t get over how damn good this was.


The Smashing Pumpkins- Once In A Lifetime (Live):


The Talking Heads- Once In A Lifetime:

Deep Cuts: The Smashing Pumpkins- Bleeding the Orchid

The deep cut is something that I feel has become a lost element of music today. Everything is so focused on singles and the “hit” that so much of the time, there are songs that get left out and bypassed. As you’ve noticed the past couple years that my level of postings about The Smashing Pumpkins has gone up over that time and that’s because I’ve really delved deep in their catalog. One of the albums that I’ve truly come to love is 2007’s, Zeitgeist. Not only does this album foreshadow a lot of what our society has become but, it’s also one hell of a great album start to finish. There is a particular song on Zeitgeist that I keep going back to and that is track 3, “Bleeding The Orchid.” This song is quite interesting and profound. The song is indirectly inspired by the death of Alice In Chains singer Layne Staley and it also features a bit of an homage to the band with the harmonies you hear in the song. Also the guitar solo on this track by Billy Corgan further proves my point that he is truly an underrated guitarist. This song is one that I really wish would make it’s way into upcoming set lists as it’s an absolutely great and touching song.


The Smashing Pumpkins- Bleeding The Orchid (Live at The Viper Room, 2010):

Memorable TV Performances: The Smashing Pumpkins- Disarm on 1994 MTV VMA’s

Very recently The Smashing Pumpkins song “Disarm” celebrated 28 years since its release as a single. To this day, that song still gives me goosebumps. It’s such a poignant song and one of those that will absolutely stand the test of time. This performance of “Disarm” is quite different than the one you find on the masterpiece that is Siamese Dream. Just watch and listen!!


The Smashing Pumpkins- Disarm (Live at the 1994 MTV VMA’s):

Alternate Versions: The Smashing Pumpkins- Being Beige (Acoustic)

Today is the incomparable William Patrick Corgan’s birthday. I thought that I’d share an alternate version of one of my favorite SP songs from a very underrated album. The song is “Being Beige” from the wonderful album, Monuments To An Elegy. If you haven’t listened to this record, I highly suggest you do. It’s truly one of those albums in a catalog that gets looked over but shouldn’t. It’s got some very classic sounding Pumpkins songs on it and then some. Tommy Lee also played the drums on the whole album and absolutely knocked it out of the park! This song just resonates with me so well. If you know me and know what the past couple years have been like, you know this song fits!


The Smashing Pumpkins- Being Beige (Acoustic):